Rocking the Casbah

The last section of this marvellous cycling adventure begins in timeless Marrakesh. The city has the hectic Jemaa el Fna, an incredible open air square featuring acrobats, musicians, con artists, fortune tellers and much, much more but on the other end of the spectrum it also has the sublime, perfectly proportioned Koutoubia Mosque. Riders will spin out of the city and up into the High Atlas Mountains. Here they will pedal over the awesome Tizi n’Test pass (2092 m) enjoying its panoramic views and challenging switchbacks. Descending from the heights, the cyclists will stop for the night in Taroudannt, its laid back medina surrounded by the city’s imposing red mud brick walls. The route then follows the Souss Valley west to the beach resort town of Agadir set on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

The riders, having enjoyed a rest day wandering Agadir’s wonderful beachfront promenade, will now head inland. The route climbs up back into the mountains but the riders are rewarded with some quiet roads, gorgeous scenery and picturesque waterfalls. The end of this stage returns the riders to the oceanfront and then on into the windswept city of Essaouria, a perfect place for the cyclists to test their windsurfing skills. It is also known for its calligraphers who create some incredibly intricate Berber designs. The route continues north along the coast passing through Safi, with its famous potters, and on into Oualidia. Here the riders can enjoy a feast of the town’s famous oysters while overlooking its gorgeous lagoon. Another couple days of riding brings the riders into Casablanca and the end of this extraordinary section of the Kingdom of the West.

Highlights

• Marrakesh Souks
• High Atlas Mountains
• Sandy Beaches
• Fresh Seafood